Combination vise grip and c-clamp



INVENTOR.

W. AU-LNER J1me 1963 A. w. AULNER COMBINATION VISE GRIP AND C-CLAMP Filed Sept. 16, 1960 BY A L ERT United States Patent 3,092,378 COMBINATION VISE GRIP AND C-CLAMP Albert W. Aulner, 703 S. Colorado, Hastings, Nebr- Filed Sept. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 56,547 3 Claims. (Cl. 269143) This invention relates to toggle actuated C-clamps and more particularly it is an object of this invention to pro vide a toggle actuated C'clamp in which the frame is of substantially a C-shape and in which a pivot point for the fulcrum of a movable jaw is disposed farther from a toggle lever connected to and operating the movable jaw than has been the case with products of this kind heretofore.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a toggle actuated G-clamp of the construction above mentioned in which no power loss exists in the motion of the movable clamping head.

More particularly it is an object to provide a construction in which there is not only no power loss, but a substantial power multiplication in the motion of the clamping head as is of particular importance in clamping pieces of metal together in many kinds of production work where quick action and much power are needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toggle actuated clamp with a frame of such a shape when the clamp is substantially closed, such as for clamping two -thin sheets of sheetmetal, the total length of the clamp is substantially less than is the case with prior art toggle clamps of the kind having handles projecting rearwardly from the frame.

Still another object is to provide a toggle actuated C- clamp, the frame portion of which is substantially of a C-shape whereby the fulcrum point or pivoting connection between a clamping head and the frame is much nearer the clamping end of the clamping head than heretofore in order that the frame, which extends on both sides of the clamping head, can provide the clamping head with a much greater amount of extra support than has heretofore been available with clamping frames of an L-shape or a Tashape.

Still another object is to provide a toggle actuated C- clamp, the adjusting screw of which is provided with special means for preventing the screw from rotating whereby .the screw can be maintained in a fixed position so that the clamp can be moved from one set of work pieces to another without loss of its adjustment. This is of particular advantage in production operations where work pieces or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings;

FIGURE 1 is a side'elevational view of the improved toggle action clamp with the elements shown in a locking position in full lines, and in a released position in broken lines.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the clamp with the parts as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated 3,092,378 Patented June 4., 1963 in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral '10 refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a C-clamp having a back 14, an upper arm 16 and a lower arm 18, numeral 20 designating an adjusting screw threaded in a hub 22 on the end of the arm 16, numeral 24 designating a movable clamping head, clamping jaw or lever pivotally mounted by a pin 26 in the end of the lower arm 18, numeral 28 a handle pivotally connected by a pin 30 to the end of the lever 24, numeral 32 designating a link pivotally connected by a pin 34 to a lobe 36 on the back 14 of the clamp, and also pivotally connected to the handle 28 by a pin 38, and numeral 40 a tension spring connected by a pin 42 to the back of the clamp, and having a hook 44 on the opposite end that is positioned in an opening 46 in the lever 24.

The adjusting screw 20 is provided with a head 48 that is secured in position by a pin 50, and the upper end of the clamp is provided with a latch 52 that is secured to the arm 16 by a screw 54 and retained in adjusted positions set by a set screw or thumb screw 56. The screw 54 extends through one end of the elongated latch 52 and the other or free end of the latch '52 is normally disposed between the threads of the threaded shaft 20 and in a position not to interfere with rotation of the shaft but yet in a position such that when the thumb screw 56 is operated, the latch 52 will engage the threads of the shaft 20 with a pressure that will tend to prevent the shaft 20 from undesirable rotation so that the clamp can be shifted from one set of work pieces to another without accidental and unwanted rotation of the shaft 20.

The threads of the set screw 56 engage the walls of an opening in the latch 52 which retains the screw 56 in the latch 52 in a movable manner for adjusting the position of the latch 52.

The lower end of the adjusting screw 20 is provided with a gripping jaw 53 that is freely held on a stem 60 by a swivel joint 62. I

A similar gripping jaw 64 is provided on the end of the lever 24, and the jaw 64 is positioned to coact with the jaw 58, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The opposite end of the lever 24 is positioned between side walls 66 and 68 of the handle 28, and the pin 30 extends through the lever and side walls.

The link 32 is provided with a projection 70' that is positioned to engage the inner surface of the handle 28 with the clamp in the locking position, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, to provide a stop or lock for retaining the gripping jaws in holding relation with work or the like.

The lower end of the clamp is bifurcated from the lower surfaces of the arms 18 to the broken line 72, and the lever 24 is positioned between the side sections of the end of the clamp.

Operation In use the gripping jaws 53 and 64- are opened by pulling the handle 28 outwardly to the position indicated by the broken lines 74, and the jaw 58 is adjusted by the screw 29 to compensate for the size of a nut, bolt head, or other work, so that the work may be positioned between thejaws, The handle 28 is then forced inwork is locked between the jaws 58 and 64. The spring 40 urges the end of the lever 24 to which the spring is connected upwardly to the position shown in broken lines.

To release the work from the gripping jaws it is only necessary to pull the handle 28 outwardly to the position shown in brokenlines.

It will be seen that special advantages are gained in having the frame of a C-shape instead of merely an L- shape, because this provides the lower arm portion 18, making possible the pivotal connection at 26 nearer the axis of the threaded shaft 20 than to the pivot pin 30.

In this way there is a power gain instead of a power loss across the clamping head 24. In many types of work this is very important. In still other types of work, it is only necessary that there be no power loss across the clamping head 24 which latter is made possible by having the pin 26 as close to a line through the center of the threaded shaft 20 as to the pin 39.

It will be further seen that the frame has a slot 99 therein, the slot 96 having parallel side walls, and the slot 90 extending through the lower arm portion 18 and also through an adjacent portion of the back 14 of the clamp frame up to the dotted line 72 for dividing the lower arm and the corresponding portion of the back 14 into two side portions, the said two side portions having parallel side walls adapted to snugly 'andmovably receive a mid portion 92 of the clamping head 24 and it will be seen that the lower arm portion 18 is of a substantial length whereby the lower arm side portions 89 tend to provide the clamping head with a much greater extra support than would the back frame portion alone. The parallel side surfaces of the clamping head 24 can be seen at 25.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a self-locking lever action clamp constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limit-ing myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a self-locking lever actuated clamp, the combina tion which comprises a C-shaped frame having a back with upper and lower arms, an adjusting screw threaded in the extended end of said upper arm, 'a gripping element mounted on said adjusting screw, said frame having a slot with parallel side walls therein extending through said lower arm portion and also through an adjacent portion of the back of said frame for dividing said lower arm and said portion of said back into two side portions, a movable clamping headhaving a mid-portion with parallel side surfaces, said mid-portion being snugly and slidably received between the lower arm side portions and said lower [arm portion being of a substantial length whereby said lower arm side portions tend to provide the clamping head with much greater extra support than would the back frame portion alone, means pivotally attaching said clamping head to said lower arm portion for pivoting about an axis normal to the sides of said clamping head midportion, a gripping element carried by said movable clamping head and positioned to coact with the gripping element of the adjusting screw, a handle pivot-ally connected to the clamping head, a toggle link positioned with one end pivotally connected to the back of the frame and with its other end pivotally connected to said handle, said axis of pivoting of said clamping ihead being disposed at least as close to a line through the axis of said adjusting screw as to said handle-to-clamping-head pivotal connection, whereby there is no power loss across said clamping head.

2. In a self-locking lever actuated clamp, the combination which comprises a C-shaped frame having a back with upper and lower arms, an adjusting screw threaded in the extended end of said upper arm, a gripping element mounted on said adjusting screw, said frame having a slot with parallel sidev walls therein extending through said lower arm portion and also through an adjacent portion of the back of said frame for dividing said lower arm and said portion of said back into two side portions, a movable clamping head having a midportion with parallel side surfaces, said mid-portion being snugly and slidably received between the lower arm side portions and said lower arm portion being of a substantial length whereby said lower arm side portions tend to provide the clamping head with much greater extra support than would the back frame portion alone, means pivotally attaching said clamping head to said lower arm portion for pivoting about an axis normal to the sides of said clamping head mid-portion, a gripping element carried by said movable clamping head and'positioned to enact with the gripping element of the adjusting screw, a handle pivotally connected to the clamping head, a toggle link positioned with one end pivotally connected to the back of the frame and with its other end pivotally connected to said handle, the distance from said handle-to-clampinghead pivotal connection to the axis of pivoting of said clamping head, being over one and one-half times the distance from the said axis of pivoting of said clamping head to a line extending through the axis of said screw.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which an elongated -latch member has one end attached to the upper arm of said frame and a free end disposed between the threads of said screw in a position so as normally to not interfer-e with screw rotation, and a set screw threaded through said latch and engaging said upper arm whereby a turning of said set screw can place said latch in a position to engage against the adjusting screw and to lock said adjusting screw against rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS all 1943 

1. IN A SELF-LOCKING LEVER ACTUATED CLAMP, THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES A C-SHAPED FRAME HAVING A BACK WITH UPPER AND LOWER ARMS, AN ADJUSTING SCREW THREADED IN THE EXTENDED END OF SAID UPPER ARM, A GRIPPING ELEMENT MOUNTED ON SAID ADJUSTING SCREW, SAID FRAME HAVING A SLOT WITH PARALLEL SIDE WALLS THEREIN EXTENDING THROUGH SAID LOWER ARM PORTION AND ALSO THROUGH AN ADJACENT PORTION OF THE BACK OF SAID FRAME FOR DIVIDING SAID LOWER ARM AND SAID PORTION OF SAID BACK INTO TWO SIDE PORTIONS, A MOVABLE CLAMPING HEAD HAVING A MID-PORTION WITH PARALLEL SIDE SURFACES, SAID MID-PORTION BEING SNUGLY AND SLIDABLY RECEIVED BETWEEN THE LOWER ARM SIDE PORTIONS AND SAID LOWER ARM PORTION BEING OF A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH WHEREBY SAID LOWER ARM SIDE PORTIONS TEND TO PROVIDE THE CLAMPING HEAD WITH MUCH GREATER EXTRA SUPPORT THAN WOULD BE BACK FRAME PORTION ALONE, MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHING SAID CLAMPING HEAD TO SAID LOWER ARM PORTION FOR PIVOTING ABOUT AN AXIS NORMAL TO THE SIDES OF SAID CLAMPING HEAD MIDPORTION, A GRIPPING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE CLAMPING HEAD AND POSITIONED TO COACT WITH THE GRIPPING ELEMENT OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW, A HANDLE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE CLAMPING HEAD, A TOGGLE LINK POSITIONED WITH ONE END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE BACK OF THE FRAME AND WITH ITS OTHER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID HANDLE, SAID AXIS OF PIVOTING OF SAID CLAMPING HEAD BEING DISPOSED AT LEAST AS CLOSE TO A LINE THROUGH THE AXIS OF SAID ADJUSTING SCREW AS TO SAID HANDLE-TO-CLAMPING-HEAD PIVOTAL CONNECTION, WHEREBY THERE IS NO POWER LOSS ACROSS SAID CLAMPING HEAD. 